Ogyris oroetes

Ogyris oroetes (Hewitson, 1862)
Silky Azure
ARHOPALINI , THECLINAE , LYCAENIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 18 June 2008)

Ogyris oroetes
Male
(Photo: courtesy of R. Grund)

This species is presumably named after the Oroetes, Persian Govenor of Sardis, referred to by Herodotus as the murderer of Polycrates, around 500 BC.

The Caterpillar is grey, furry and flat. It feeds on various species of Mistletoe ( LORANTHACEAE ) including :

Gum-leaf Mistletoe ( Amyema bifurcata ),

Box Mistletoe ( Amyema miquelii ), and

Drooping Mistletoe ( Amyema pendula ).

which are a parasitic on:

Gum ( Eucalyptus, MYRTACEAE ).

The early instars feed by day, but later instars feed nocturnally, sheltering by day under loose bark or in ground debris. The Caterpillars are usually attended by various species of ants from the subfamilies :

DOLICHODERINAE,

FORMICINAE,

MYRMICINAE, and

PSEUDOMYRMECINAE.

(Photos: courtesy of Bob Miller and Ian Hill)

The pupa is brown with dark markings, and has a length of about 1.3 cms. Pupation typically occurs in situations like the larval shelter.

male
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

On top, the adults are a metallic blue, with the males tending towards lilac, and the females having black margins.

female
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

Underneath: the wings are a blotchy fawn, and the fore wings each have a series of black and white stripes under the leading edge.

male, underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The adult butterflies have a wingspan of 3 to 4 cms.

female, underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The eggs are grey round and flattened, with a diameter of about 0.8 mm. They are usually laid singly on leaves of fooidplants.

The species occurs over much of mainland Australia as two races

oroetes in Queensland and New South Wales, and

apiculata in the rest of the mainland.